LATEST | Kuzmenko losing favour in Vancouver: Rick Tocchet losing patience over it
Andrei Kuzmenko had an excellent first season in Vancouver, but recently it's been a struggle for the forward.
In last night's loss to the Devils, where Vancouver mounted a comeback from a 3 goal deficit in the third before eventually falling 6-5, Kuzmenko only played three shifts in the final frame.
The winger has seemingly fallen out of the good graces of head coach Rick Tocchet, who was visibly frustrated answering questions about the lack of shifts.
Kuzmenko was a -3 in the loss, and has the third worst +/- for the Canucks this season.
Nils Hoglander was the beneficiary of Kuzmenko's lost ice time, getting 10 shifts in the third period and scoring a goal.
Hoglander's strong play and Kuzmenko's struggles could result in Kuzmenko's ice time continuing to dwindle, with a healthy scratch not out of the question.
Kuzmenko is in the first year of a 2 year deal that pays him $5.5 million per season.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 6 | 969 ANSWERS LATEST | Kuzmenko losing favour in Vancouver: Rick Tocchet losing patience over it What should the Canucks do with Kuzmenko? | ||
| Play him more, boost his confidence | 447 | 46.1 % |
| Teach him a lesson, make him work harder | 271 | 28 % |
| Trade him | 251 | 25.9 % |
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